Hair retainer

ABSTRACT

There is provided a tubular hair retainer that includes slits at the upper and lower portion of the tube, respectively. Drawstrings are attached on each side (upper and lower parts) of the tube. The strings are drawn to secure the tube over a person&#39;s hair. The tube is made of one or more materials, such as leather, wool, denim, cloth, metal, etc. The slits allow the user to insert his or her hair into the tube. Ornamental designs, rivets, and ribbons can also be placed on or attached to the hair retainer tube to provide decoration and style. Combs can be attached inside of the tube to hold hair in place. The tube can be lined with any material or can be make without a lining.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to human hair retainers, and more particularly, to a retainer having a simplified structure and ornamental features used to organize and hold human hair.

BACKROUND OF THE INVENTION

Long hair can become very unmanageable and can get in the way of daily activities. It can be very difficult for a person with long hair to cook, clean, eat, and participate in sports or dancing. Long hair is very dangerous around stoves and grills. Many people with long hair have problems at the dinner table. Their hair can get in their food or even in other people's food. Long hair can get in people's eyes during windy days.

Scarves can come loose and slip off the hair. Rubber bands, barrettes, and scrunchies have a potential to break when holding large amounts of hair, such as dredlocks and braids. This is even more of a problem when the hair is extremely thick.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a hair retainer that retains human hair in a simple manner.

It is another object of the invention to provide a hair retainer that both retains and decorates hair.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a tubular retainer that is easy to wear and to remove.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a tubular hair retainer that includes a slit at the upper and lower portion of the tube. Drawstrings are attached on each side (upper and lower parts) of the tube. The strings are drawn to secure the tube over a person's hair. The tube is made of one or more materials, such as leather, wool, denim, cloth, metal, etc.

The first, upper slit allows the user to insert his or her hair into the tube. A second slit on the lower portion of the tube performs the same function. Both slits can have a drawstring to tighten the hair together. Ornamental designs, rivets, and ribbons can also be placed on or attached to the hair retainer tube to proved decoration and style. Combs can be attached inside the tube to hold hair in place. The tube can be lined with any material, or may be constructed without a lining. Elastic or Velcro fasteners can also be used instead of drawstrings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A complete understanding of the present invention may be obtained by reference to the accompanying drawings, when considered in conjunction with the subsequent, detailed description, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the hair retainer in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial schematic view of a person wearing the inventive hair retainer.

For purposes of clarity and brevity, like elements and components will bear the same designations and numbering throughout the FIGURES.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1, my hair retainer is shown as reference number 8. A hollow tube 10 is made of fabric such as leather, rubber, polyester, cotton blends, satin, silk, velvet, wool, etc. Such fabrics have a natural resilience and are soft to the touch. The tube 10 can also be firmer when made out of other materials such as wood, plastic, or metal. The tube 10 has openings 13 and is used to hold the hair of the user (not shown). If the user has thick hair or many dredlocks or braids, the tube 10 can be relatively wide and/or made of resilient material. Thinner hair, or course, requires a thinner tube 10.

A first slit 12 is created in the upper portion of the tube 10. The first slit 12 allows the user to insert his or her hair into the tube 10. A second slit 121 is also provided at the lower portion of the tube 10 in order for the user to pull the hair through the lower portion of the tube 10. Along the periphery 11 of the first slit 12 in the tube 10 is disposed an optional pair of drawstrings 14 for tightening the first slit 12 around the user's hair, once the hair retainer 8 is in place. Likewise, drawstrings 141 are disposed along the periphery 111 of the second slit 121.

Text, graphics, and decorations 16, such as photographs, drawings, sketches, logos, trademarks, etc. are optionally placed on the outer surface of tube 10. A plurality of rivets 17 can also be used of any desired shapes. Attached to the lower portion of the tube 10 is an optional plurality of ornamental ribbons 18, which can be fabricated from satin, cotton, wool, leather, etc.

A comb 19 can be attached on the inside of the tube 10 in the upper and lower portions thereof. Also, drawstrings, not shown, can be inserted into the center of the tube 10.

Referring now also to FIG. 2, there is shown a person 20 wearing the hair retainer 8 of the present invention to organize and hold dredlocks. In this embodiment, a pair of drawstrings 14 is used to retain tube 10 in proper position.

Since other modifications and changes that are varied to fit particular operating requirements and environments will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the invention is not considered limited to the example chosen for purposes of disclosure, and covers all changes and modifications which do not constitute departures from the true spirit and scope of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, that which is desired to be protected by Letters Patent is presented in the subsequently appended claims.

-   8. Hair Retainer -   10. Tube -   11. Periphery of slit 14 -   111. Periphery of 2nd slit 141 -   12. First slit-top -   121. Second slit-bottom -   13. Lining -   14. First drawstring -   141. Second drawstring -   16. text, Graphics and decorations -   17. Rivets -   18. Ornamental ribbon -   19. Combs -   20. Person 

1. A hair retainer comprising: a substantially hollow tube; a first slit in said tube for a user to insert his or her hair; and a first drawstring proximate said first slit, for the user to tighten and retain said tube in the proper position relative to said user's hair.
 2. The hair retainer in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a second slit in said tube.
 3. The hair retainer in accordance with claim 2, further comprising a second drawstring proximate said second slit.
 4. The hair retainer in accordance with claim 1, wherein said hollow tube has indicia disposed on the outside thereof.
 5. The hair retainer in accordance with claim 1, further comprising at least one ribbon attached to said tube.
 6. The hair retainer in accordance with claim 2, wherein said hollow tube has indicia disposed on the outside thereof.
 7. The hair retainer in accordance with claim 4, further comprising at least one ribbon attached to said tube.
 8. The hair retainer in accordance with claim 6, further comprising at least one ribbon attached to said tube.
 9. The hair retainer in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a comb disposed inside said tube.
 10. The hair retainer in accordance with claim 3, further comprising a comb disposed inside said tube.
 11. The hair retainer in accordance with claim 4, further comprising a comb disposed inside said tube.
 12. The hair retainer in accordance with claim 8, further comprising a comb disposed inside said tube. 